When Randi Lippert moved to London from Canada for work she was looking forward to getting to know her new colleagues.
Unfortunately, she relocated just before the first coronavirus lockdown last year. “I didn’t have much in-office time to bond with my new team members before we all had to work from home,” says the 28-year-old.
Thankfully for Ms Lippert, she has been able to get to know all her new workmates over lunch – “Zoom lunch” that is.
Her employer, investment firm Wealthsimple, pays for lunchboxes to be delivered to staff at their homes across London, and encourages everyone to eat them while socialising with colleagues virtually over video conference calls.
Ms Lippert says she joins in at least once a week, and that the experience has been a help during a challenging period.